ISIS is an al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria. The group originated from Iraq and is composed of SunniMuslims. At first, the group targeted the Iraq government, US forces in Iraq, Shia Muslims and Christians. Currently, it has spread in Syria. The ISIS demands are that allMuslims in the world should live in one Islamic state ruled by Sharia law. Foreign fighters, including the United States, have joined Syria to fight against the ISIS. The insecurity in Iraq and Syria has provided a way for the ISIS to attempt to build a pro-state in the Sunni majority areas of the two nations. TheISIS continues to use ruthless tactics to declare its authority. Once the group controls an area, it tells women to cover up and kidnaps journalists, Syrian activists and aid workers. Suicide bombings and beheading is a common feature of the ISIS/Syrian conflict. The magnitude and outcome of this conflict show that it is a threat to Syria and Iraq and the international community where United States is inclusive(Post wires and Earle 1).Weapons of mass destruction possessed by the group are a threat to global peace. ISIS is also a threat to the economy as oil prices has risen up. The conflict further threatens to destabilize the entire Middle East.

Explanation

The major reason for the Islamic state Iraq and Syria (ISIS) conflict is the political enmity between the Sunni and Shia Muslims of Syria and Iraq. The al-Qaeda of Iraq fought against the majority Shia representation in the Iraq government. Though the group was defeated after the US intervention, it was never destroyed. It reemerged as ISIS and incorporated other al-Qaidamembers after freeing them from the Iraq government. The political enmity of the two Muslims groups drives this conflict. Another driver of this conflict is the support from Sunnis from both nations. The support the ISIS ideology and this gives the group the support and strength to keep fighting. Also, the ISIS is driven from the money from extortion and oil. Syria’s northern oil fields are under the control of ISIS. Therefore, they use trucks to transport oil to Turkey. Also, the group has established networks in the society that generate money. Also, it is believed that US allies such as Saudi Arabia especially rich Saudis have been supporting the group. The main reason for the conflict is to create an Islamic state in Sunni areas of Syria and Iraq (Post wires and Earle 1).This ideology drives the group.

The United States, the world power and having the strongest military could deal and end the ISIS conflict if only the best policies were put in place. Two US policies can change the situation in Iraq and Syria. First, military force should be used with the aim of shaping diplomacy. Rather than using military to destroy ISIS and its supporters, a political accommodation can be successful. The US should put measures on how to ensure that Iraq has an inclusive government where Shiite and Sunnis will be equally represented. This would end communal violence. This intervention will lead to the formation of a new Iraq government. This will also prevent the conflict from spreading to Lebanon and other areas. The second policy is related to ISIS assistance. The US and its allies need to combat the ISIS and other similar groups not only through military support but also through use of various tools such as working withpartners to counter the ISIS ideology, ending the groups finances and logistics and most importantly, winning over the support of Sunnis in the Iraq and Syria areas.

Analysis

As ISIS conflict worsens, police officers offer a close vigilant to the heavily populated areas with Sunnis and Shias in both Iraq and Syria. Since ISIS is Sunni-dominated and also receives support from SunniMuslims, it is evident that the military intervention in ending the ISIS conflict would be futile as this would not solve the differences between the two groups. As the main driver of the conflict, the political difference between the two groups should be central to every action that is focused towards ending the conflict. Though the war is not between the Shias and the Sunnis, the history of the two stirred the emergence of the group from the former al-Qaida. The second driver, the ideology that the ISIS bases its action on should be an issue of concern (Kerry 1). Any intervention should ensure that Sunni supporters drop that ideology and focus of building an inclusive national government. To conclude, the US military will create more harm through use of weapons to end the ISIS conflict, US policy makers should identify the drivers of the conflict and therefore make interventions to create a firm solution. This is because it is only through political accommodation and unmilitary interventions(pulling down the foundation of the group) that the ISIS will not only be defeated but destroyed completely.

Recommendations

So far, US air strikesagainst the ISIS has been important in containing the group, responding to threats to US citizens in Iraq and preventing possible actions of genocide(Baldor2). However, US military action needs to be just part of the most important multinational security and political strategy. The US should have a strategyaimed at degrading the ISIS. This policy should contain the threat of ISIS to Middle East and international security, reduce humanitarian crisis troubling Iraqis and civilians and finally restoring the territorial integrity of Syria and Iraq. Furthermore, the US should cooperate with its partners(Kerry 1). This would provide a coordinated action towards defeating the ISIS.

Works Cited

Baldor, Lolita. U.S. Launches Airstrikes against ISIS near Baghdad, Marking First Step in Expanded Fight. Huffpost. September 17, 2014

Post wires and Earle, Geoff. Obama administration confirms ISIS conflict is war. New York Post. September 13, 2014

Kerry, John. The Threat of ISIS Demands a Global Coalition. The New York Times. AUG. 29, 2014